1940's Bridgend

 Event Date: June 2019.  .

In the summer of 2019 my local town held a festival and the theme was "1940's"

The re-enactment day saw the town centre transported back to the 1940s, with shop and pub staff dressing up in clothes from the era and even taping up their windows as they would have done during wartime to prevent flying glass from bomb blasts.

This has been done in the past and there were hopes that it would continue, sadly due to the pandemic, not this year!

A good-humoured enjoyable weekend was had by all concerned.

Click on images for full screen view.

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I hope you enjoyed the images.

I also made a short YouTube video of these images and some extras not on here:-

Wartime Bridgend - YouTube

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A view worth remembering

Visit Date: September 2019

This day I visited a part of the South Wales coast that I have not been to for many years, Langland Bay in the Mumbles area of Swansea. It is a beautiful part of the country. I walked along the coastal path until I saw a breath-taking vision of the coast. I stopped for a little while here and rested at this headland on a public bench that had the dedication on the bench that is in the photograph below.

It was a very poignant moment, the message gripped me and I took the image of the coast with the public bench in the shot. It is easy to understand why this view kept the mentioned POW Keith Bailey thinking of home in those very difficult times.

The mentioned Austin Bailey Foundation was established on 1st of February 1984 by the late Keith Bailey who, despite being a prisoner of war with the Japanese from 1942 to 1945, was acutely conscious of his own good fortune in life.

As a result, he was always keen to help those less fortunate who are in need or have adversity.

Canon Don Lewis, then Vicar of Swansea, assisted in setting up the trust and remained a Trustee, good friend and staunch supporter of its aims until his death.

The trustees of the Austin Bailey Foundation normally meet in May and December. Donations are made in the following categories;

• Local Charities in Swansea and district; - approximately 50% of unrestricted income is used for local charities and local branches of national charities who help children and families, those who are disabled, infirm, aged or in need.
• Local Churches in the City and County of Swansea; - approximately 25% of unrestricted income is donated to local churches for the furtherance of the Christian faith.
• Overseas Charities; - approximately 25% of unrestricted income is given to relief agencies for the relief of poverty and ill-health, and the fostering of opportunities for young people in the developing world.

Please note I have no connection with the Austin Bailey Foundation.

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Visit Information:-

Google Reference
51.564505682553225, -4.0146685687908805

Google Search reference: Snaple Point View Point

What Three Words reference : ///paces.irrigated.flies

Additional information
Visiting: There is a good size car park ( 51.568155694635536, -4.013917844838723 ) at Langland Bay which is a little over 5 miles from Swansea. There is also an easy coastal walk of just over a mile from Langland Bay west to Caswell Bay.

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Carreg Samson

 Date of visit August 2019

Carreg Samson is another Dolmen in Wales.

As with others of this type the structure would originally have been covered with earth.

It is one of the most beautiful spots overlooking the sea, near the picturesque port of Abercastle.

This is a typical example of this type of neolithic chambered tomb.

The Capstone is 4.5 metres long, 1 metre thick, 2.7 metres wide and between 1 and 2 metres high.

When excavated, it was found that a pit of almost a metre deep lay underneath. The was pit covered by clay stones. A small quantity of bone, flint and pottery was unearthed at the site and included a vessel containing cremated ashes.

Carreg Samson is also known locally as The Longhouse Cromlech

It is also known as Samsons Stone. The connection with the name Samson is regarding St. Samson of Dol, and the legend goes that he placed the capstone onto the structure using his little finger.

St. Samson was the son of Amon of Demetia and Anna Of Gwent, Anna was the daughter of Meurig ap Tewdrig the King of Gwent.

Beautiful spot to rest

This is a great place to visit if you like Dolmens or Cromlechs.

This is a typically beautiful example of this type of Neolithic chambered tomb.

Even if you just like to get outdoors the view from here over the bay of Abercastle.

(Location information below)

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Visit Information:-

Google Reference
51.95833371460036, -5.132992069771207

Google Search reference: Carreg Samson

What Three Words reference : ///crumble.able.shuttling

Additional information

Visiting: If you drive to Abercastle port (51.95990618212159, -5.12670170227685) there is limited parking for around a dozen cars. You can then walk up and along the coast path until you reach the site, this is a lovely walk.

On the day I visited the car park was jammed full and there is no other parking in this small village. I was disappointed however a local man told me that I could also visit from longhouse farm (51.95689526973494, -5.1342374861494315) which owns the field.

I drove the few minutes there and asked at the farmhouse if I could park and visit the Dolmen, the lady of the house was very welcoming, and let me park there. The access from here is very easy if you have any mobility problems.

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